Warship
Level Plane
Here's another EP of occult-obsessed, retro-inspired groovy metal from Oakland's Saviours. Everything from the Crucifire review applies, as Warship fits smoothly into the Saviours discography.
Saviours - Warship
.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Saviours - Warship
Saviours
Warship
Level Plane
Here's another EP of occult-obsessed, retro-inspired groovy metal from Oakland's Saviours. Everything from the Crucifire review applies, as Warship fits smoothly into the Saviours discography.
Saviours - Warship
.
Warship
Level Plane
Here's another EP of occult-obsessed, retro-inspired groovy metal from Oakland's Saviours. Everything from the Crucifire review applies, as Warship fits smoothly into the Saviours discography.
Saviours - Warship
.
Saviours - Crucifire
Saviours
Crucifire
Level Plane
These East Bay menaces sound a lot like The Sword. A lot. Call it futurist/prog/retro-metal or whatever but, seriously, Age of Winters and Crucifire sound damn near identical. It's not plagerism. Both bands formed, gigged, and recorded around the same time. I think it's a happy accident that benefits the listener.
The differences between the two records have nothing to do with music. Saviours features ex-Yaphet Kotto members and their lyrics are anti-Christian/occult in nature. The Sword have a reputation for being false hipsters (not true), so I guess that makes Saviours more kvlt, but who cares? You'll dig Crucifire if you're into the current retro bands like The Sword, Early Man or Priestess.
Saviours - Crucifire
\m/
Crucifire
Level Plane
These East Bay menaces sound a lot like The Sword. A lot. Call it futurist/prog/retro-metal or whatever but, seriously, Age of Winters and Crucifire sound damn near identical. It's not plagerism. Both bands formed, gigged, and recorded around the same time. I think it's a happy accident that benefits the listener.
The differences between the two records have nothing to do with music. Saviours features ex-Yaphet Kotto members and their lyrics are anti-Christian/occult in nature. The Sword have a reputation for being false hipsters (not true), so I guess that makes Saviours more kvlt, but who cares? You'll dig Crucifire if you're into the current retro bands like The Sword, Early Man or Priestess.
Saviours - Crucifire
\m/
Teen Cthulhu - Ride the Blade
Teen Cthulhu
Ride the Blade
Life is Abuse
Blackened fastcore? Demonic hardcore? Metalcore black metal? Okay, that last one didn't make sense, but you get the idea. Seattle's Teen Cthulhu rose through the late 90s metalcore ranks playing very fast, overloaded with keyboards and with an intense black metal influence.
Here's where things get weird. Bleeding Through also did the same thing (kind of) at the same time, yet Teen Cthulhu is clearly the superior band. Bleeding Through rode that Hot Topic vibe to Ozzfest glory while Teen Cthulhu kept it real and played better. I suppose Ride the Blade said some things that America wasn't ready to hear. Fortunately, you can.
Teen Cthulhu - Ride the Blade
.
Ride the Blade
Life is Abuse
Blackened fastcore? Demonic hardcore? Metalcore black metal? Okay, that last one didn't make sense, but you get the idea. Seattle's Teen Cthulhu rose through the late 90s metalcore ranks playing very fast, overloaded with keyboards and with an intense black metal influence.
Here's where things get weird. Bleeding Through also did the same thing (kind of) at the same time, yet Teen Cthulhu is clearly the superior band. Bleeding Through rode that Hot Topic vibe to Ozzfest glory while Teen Cthulhu kept it real and played better. I suppose Ride the Blade said some things that America wasn't ready to hear. Fortunately, you can.
Teen Cthulhu - Ride the Blade
.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Agoraphobic Nosebleed/Insect Warfare split EP
ANb/IW
split EP
Relapse
This EP ends as quickly as it begins, yet you immediately want to hear it again. That's how you know it's quality.
Much like on their split with Apt. 213, Agoraphobic Nosebleed continues to explore the power violence of its psyche. Don't worry, there's still plenty of blasting. Insect Warfare's side of the split is some of their last material, since they regrettably broke up last year. The shit is too pissed for words and Rahi doesn't get buried in the mix. Killer.
ANb/IW - split EP
\m/
split EP
Relapse
This EP ends as quickly as it begins, yet you immediately want to hear it again. That's how you know it's quality.
Much like on their split with Apt. 213, Agoraphobic Nosebleed continues to explore the power violence of its psyche. Don't worry, there's still plenty of blasting. Insect Warfare's side of the split is some of their last material, since they regrettably broke up last year. The shit is too pissed for words and Rahi doesn't get buried in the mix. Killer.
ANb/IW - split EP
\m/
Master's Hammer - Ritual
Master's Hammer
Ritual
Moniter
Master's Hammer is a first-wave black metal band that dates back to communist Czechosolvakia (1983). They play grim, epic black metal from the wrong side of the Iron Curtain. It's even more ignorant than it sounds.
Ritual, recorded in 1990, was the end result of state repression and cultural sea change. Too early for chruch-burning Norway, Master's Hammer was one of the bands that transitioned from the Possessed/Bathory sound into something more akin to Bathory. Ritual isn't as fast as you'd think, but it's kvlt as fuck.
Master's Hammer - Ritual
\m/
Ritual
Moniter
Master's Hammer is a first-wave black metal band that dates back to communist Czechosolvakia (1983). They play grim, epic black metal from the wrong side of the Iron Curtain. It's even more ignorant than it sounds.
Ritual, recorded in 1990, was the end result of state repression and cultural sea change. Too early for chruch-burning Norway, Master's Hammer was one of the bands that transitioned from the Possessed/Bathory sound into something more akin to Bathory. Ritual isn't as fast as you'd think, but it's kvlt as fuck.
Master's Hammer - Ritual
\m/
Bolt Thrower - Realm of Chaos
Bolt Thrower
Realm of Chaos
Earache
Realm of Chaos is the masterpiece created by England's own Warhammer-playing death metal lunatics. Bolt Thrower has influenced everyone from Earth Crisis to Insect Warfare. The band is known for its down-tuned, crush-your-skull metal but this record takes things to disturbing new lows.
Since its Realm of Chaos' 1989 release, something strange happened to Bolt Thrower. During the last 20 years, Bolt Thrower has been adopted by the crusty punks. I've lost track of the number of bands who describe themselves as Bolt Thrower-style crusty metal. It's my assumption that, while writing and recording Realm of Chaos, that "crusty" and "D-beat" never crossed their minds. Then again, you never know what someone else is thinking.
Bolt Thrower - Realm of Chaos
\m/
Realm of Chaos
Earache
Realm of Chaos is the masterpiece created by England's own Warhammer-playing death metal lunatics. Bolt Thrower has influenced everyone from Earth Crisis to Insect Warfare. The band is known for its down-tuned, crush-your-skull metal but this record takes things to disturbing new lows.
Since its Realm of Chaos' 1989 release, something strange happened to Bolt Thrower. During the last 20 years, Bolt Thrower has been adopted by the crusty punks. I've lost track of the number of bands who describe themselves as Bolt Thrower-style crusty metal. It's my assumption that, while writing and recording Realm of Chaos, that "crusty" and "D-beat" never crossed their minds. Then again, you never know what someone else is thinking.
Bolt Thrower - Realm of Chaos
\m/
Impaled Nazarene - Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz
Impaled Nazarene
Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz
Osmose
This is the most batshit-crazy black metal album I've ever heard. Impaled Nazarene never went in for the Kiss make-up thing. Instead they took the demonic S&M angle and mixed it with a D-beat influence, but don't get the wrong idea. Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz is as grim and frost-bitten as any Abigor record.
Plus, I have happy memories associated with this record. Money Mike and I used to blast this album in the Ft. Hood barracks while getting wasted on boxed wine. Ah, good times.
Impaled Nazarene - Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz
Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz
Osmose
This is the most batshit-crazy black metal album I've ever heard. Impaled Nazarene never went in for the Kiss make-up thing. Instead they took the demonic S&M angle and mixed it with a D-beat influence, but don't get the wrong idea. Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz is as grim and frost-bitten as any Abigor record.
Plus, I have happy memories associated with this record. Money Mike and I used to blast this album in the Ft. Hood barracks while getting wasted on boxed wine. Ah, good times.
Impaled Nazarene - Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz
Kill the Client - Escalation of Hostility
Kill the Client
Escalation of Hostility
Willowtip
This is Kill the Client. They live in the D/FW Metroplex. They play kill-you-and-steal-your-car grindcore. Along side Pretty Little Flower and Insect Warfare, Kill the Client is the reason Texas is the worldwide grind leader. You need Escalation of Hostility. Highly recommended.
Kill the Client - Escalation of Hostility
Escalation of Hostility
Willowtip
This is Kill the Client. They live in the D/FW Metroplex. They play kill-you-and-steal-your-car grindcore. Along side Pretty Little Flower and Insect Warfare, Kill the Client is the reason Texas is the worldwide grind leader. You need Escalation of Hostility. Highly recommended.
Kill the Client - Escalation of Hostility
Animosity - Animal
Animosity
Animal
Metal Blade/Blackmarket Activities
Welcome to the world of flat-billed-hat wigger death metal. MTV and the like call it "deathcore." I think that it's disgusting that "they" are trying to mass-market another pre-packaged youth trend.
Don't blame that on Animosity. They play new-school death metal in the vien of Decapitated and the Black Dahlia Murder, but with breakdowns inspired by Korn rather than Unbroken. I guess that's a hallmark of "deathcore." Whatever. To me, it's just another tool at the musician's disposal.
For a band that treads dangerously close to Hot Topic territory, Animosity pulls of this brand of metal forcefully. Animal is way tighter than Genesis by Job for a Cowboy, even though it's still a riff salad at times. I suppose another reference point is All Shall Perish but I hate that band. Animosity rules. You can't help who your fans are. People like what they like.
Animosity - Animal
Animal
Metal Blade/Blackmarket Activities
Welcome to the world of flat-billed-hat wigger death metal. MTV and the like call it "deathcore." I think that it's disgusting that "they" are trying to mass-market another pre-packaged youth trend.
Don't blame that on Animosity. They play new-school death metal in the vien of Decapitated and the Black Dahlia Murder, but with breakdowns inspired by Korn rather than Unbroken. I guess that's a hallmark of "deathcore." Whatever. To me, it's just another tool at the musician's disposal.
For a band that treads dangerously close to Hot Topic territory, Animosity pulls of this brand of metal forcefully. Animal is way tighter than Genesis by Job for a Cowboy, even though it's still a riff salad at times. I suppose another reference point is All Shall Perish but I hate that band. Animosity rules. You can't help who your fans are. People like what they like.
Animosity - Animal
Friday, January 2, 2009
Terrorizer - World Downfall
Terrorizer
World Downfall
Earache
This is the West Coast death/grind classic that defined the Earache sound. It's the classic Garcia/Pintado/Vincent/Sandoval line-up playing a classic album. What needs to be said about World Downfall that hasn't been said already? I can think of one thing.
Terrorizer, along with Canadian thrash legends Razor, was the primary influence on Insect Warfare. For all of the new-school maniacs that love IxWx, this is the foundation of their sound. It's an unholy whirlwind grindcore attack that is not unlike dying in a hurricane. You need this!
Terrorizer - World Downfall
World Downfall
Earache
This is the West Coast death/grind classic that defined the Earache sound. It's the classic Garcia/Pintado/Vincent/Sandoval line-up playing a classic album. What needs to be said about World Downfall that hasn't been said already? I can think of one thing.
Terrorizer, along with Canadian thrash legends Razor, was the primary influence on Insect Warfare. For all of the new-school maniacs that love IxWx, this is the foundation of their sound. It's an unholy whirlwind grindcore attack that is not unlike dying in a hurricane. You need this!
Terrorizer - World Downfall
The Red Chord - Prey for Eyes
The Red Chord
Prey for Eyes
Metal Blade
Maybe I'm being too hard on the Red Chord. Their first album was one of the decade's best and that is the record that will be compared to everything The Red Chord makes from now on. While Prey for Eyes is certainly no Fused Together in Revolving Doors, but it's easily on par with Clients.
Prey for Eyes is moshier than past efforts. The songs are so packed with the Red Chord's "signature playing" that they blend together. I suppose this is the down side of the Red Chord's formula. This one may not be great, but there are flashes of brilliance.
Prey for Eyes is a solid, quality release. It just has an incredibly high standard to meet.
The Red Chord - Prey for Eyes
Prey for Eyes
Metal Blade
Maybe I'm being too hard on the Red Chord. Their first album was one of the decade's best and that is the record that will be compared to everything The Red Chord makes from now on. While Prey for Eyes is certainly no Fused Together in Revolving Doors, but it's easily on par with Clients.
Prey for Eyes is moshier than past efforts. The songs are so packed with the Red Chord's "signature playing" that they blend together. I suppose this is the down side of the Red Chord's formula. This one may not be great, but there are flashes of brilliance.
Prey for Eyes is a solid, quality release. It just has an incredibly high standard to meet.
The Red Chord - Prey for Eyes
American Nightmare - Background Music
American Nightmare
Background Music
Equal Vision
Let's get this out of the way, upfront. I'm not engaging in any rumor-mongering concerning American Nightmare. They were forced to change their name to Give Up the Ghost, the singer's missing a hand and Fall Out Boy plagiarized them; with the root causes being the subject of much internet speculation. Use Google if you want to find out more.
The facts are that Tim Cossar (ex-Ten Yard Fight) and Wes Eisold (the apparent poet laureate of Boston) made a masterpiece album and bands have been ripping it off ever since. Background Music dragged the old school into the 21st century. This is some of the decade's best hardcore. Listen at your own risk.
American Nightmare - Background Music
Background Music
Equal Vision
Let's get this out of the way, upfront. I'm not engaging in any rumor-mongering concerning American Nightmare. They were forced to change their name to Give Up the Ghost, the singer's missing a hand and Fall Out Boy plagiarized them; with the root causes being the subject of much internet speculation. Use Google if you want to find out more.
The facts are that Tim Cossar (ex-Ten Yard Fight) and Wes Eisold (the apparent poet laureate of Boston) made a masterpiece album and bands have been ripping it off ever since. Background Music dragged the old school into the 21st century. This is some of the decade's best hardcore. Listen at your own risk.
American Nightmare - Background Music
RE-UP: Cursed - I
Cursed
I
Deathwish Inc.
Here's the original review in italics from No Funeral #1 (August 2006), with some additional commentary and, most importantly,the mediafire link the full album stream.
I know this doesn’t actually pertain to the music on the record but, with my inner record collector screaming at the top of his lungs, I have to mention this and then we can get down to business. Every band that cares even the least little bit about the packaging of their albums should have Jake Bannon do all of their artwork.
I love all of his Atomic designs material and Cursed is no exception. The digipak for “One” is one of the most elegant designs I’ve ever seen for a CD. The black and white artwork (along with the accompanying layout) placed on the cardboard supplements the dark and disturbed music within.
Back to business, “One” by Cursed is face melting hardcore. Simply put, it’s Black Flag and Negative Approach played with Entombed’s guitar tone, but it’s never that simple with these Toronto natives. Their music is ferocious and the lyrics are sinister. Some have complained that this band is simply volume over ability, but I could not disagree with that more. First, it’s ex-members of the Swarm, so what do you what? Second, these guys write too many good riffs and put to many clever time changes into their brand of hardcore to dismiss their musicianship.
These guys are probably in their apartment in Toronto, planning the invasion of Buffalo, and trying to decide for how much they’ll ransom it back to Albany. Great stuff. These guys wrote an incredibly nasty song about their own conception (1974). How fucked is that? I love it.
Does Headbanger’s Ball got you down? Tired of metalcore, Trustkill, and “bros going off”? Then Cursed is the cure for what ails ya. Hardcore the way it was meant to be played. There’s a little bit of a metal influence to keep things interesting, but “One” is still punk as fuck.
What's changed between then and now? Not much. Cursed is considered one of this decade's best hardcore bands and this album still rules. I still dig Jake Bannon's artwork and it totally suck that Cursed broke up.
\m/
I
Deathwish Inc.
Here's the original review in italics from No Funeral #1 (August 2006), with some additional commentary and, most importantly,
I know this doesn’t actually pertain to the music on the record but, with my inner record collector screaming at the top of his lungs, I have to mention this and then we can get down to business. Every band that cares even the least little bit about the packaging of their albums should have Jake Bannon do all of their artwork.
I love all of his Atomic designs material and Cursed is no exception. The digipak for “One” is one of the most elegant designs I’ve ever seen for a CD. The black and white artwork (along with the accompanying layout) placed on the cardboard supplements the dark and disturbed music within.
Back to business, “One” by Cursed is face melting hardcore. Simply put, it’s Black Flag and Negative Approach played with Entombed’s guitar tone, but it’s never that simple with these Toronto natives. Their music is ferocious and the lyrics are sinister. Some have complained that this band is simply volume over ability, but I could not disagree with that more. First, it’s ex-members of the Swarm, so what do you what? Second, these guys write too many good riffs and put to many clever time changes into their brand of hardcore to dismiss their musicianship.
These guys are probably in their apartment in Toronto, planning the invasion of Buffalo, and trying to decide for how much they’ll ransom it back to Albany. Great stuff. These guys wrote an incredibly nasty song about their own conception (1974). How fucked is that? I love it.
Does Headbanger’s Ball got you down? Tired of metalcore, Trustkill, and “bros going off”? Then Cursed is the cure for what ails ya. Hardcore the way it was meant to be played. There’s a little bit of a metal influence to keep things interesting, but “One” is still punk as fuck.
What's changed between then and now? Not much. Cursed is considered one of this decade's best hardcore bands and this album still rules. I still dig Jake Bannon's artwork and it totally suck that Cursed broke up.
\m/
Underdog - Live on WNYU
Underdog
Live on the "Crucial Chaos" show
WNYU - New York City
Here's a live Underdog set on the legendary WNYU's "Crucial Chaos" show. Everything from the Over the Edge review still applies. Captured in their element, this is Underdog at the top of its game.
Underdog - Live on WNYU
Live on the "Crucial Chaos" show
WNYU - New York City
Here's a live Underdog set on the legendary WNYU's "Crucial Chaos" show. Everything from the Over the Edge review still applies. Captured in their element, this is Underdog at the top of its game.
Underdog - Live on WNYU
Hatred Surge - Collection 2005-07
Hatred Surge
Collection 2005-07
Blastasfuk
In the future (you know… now), this is the purpose CDs will serve: this disc collects all of the out-of-print Hatred Surge vinyl, primarily the material that Alex Hughes recorded as a one-man project. The 2004 Demo, the 625 EP, the RFL 5”, the splits with Insect Warfare and the Endless Blockade and four compilation tracks are gathered together for Collection 2005-07, in all of their monstrous, grind-violence glory.
If you’re not hip to the Hatred Surge sound, it’s grind-crushery mixed with soul-killing sludge and an extreme Despise You fetish. Along with the Endless Blockade and Iron Lung, Hatred Surge is the leader in modern power violence. It’s music that is simultaneously elegant and deranged. Of the cuts on this CD (available through the Hatred Surge e-store), I’m partial to the Debut EP. These maniacs are just getting started.
\m/
Collection 2005-07
Blastasfuk
In the future (you know… now), this is the purpose CDs will serve: this disc collects all of the out-of-print Hatred Surge vinyl, primarily the material that Alex Hughes recorded as a one-man project. The 2004 Demo, the 625 EP, the RFL 5”, the splits with Insect Warfare and the Endless Blockade and four compilation tracks are gathered together for Collection 2005-07, in all of their monstrous, grind-violence glory.
If you’re not hip to the Hatred Surge sound, it’s grind-crushery mixed with soul-killing sludge and an extreme Despise You fetish. Along with the Endless Blockade and Iron Lung, Hatred Surge is the leader in modern power violence. It’s music that is simultaneously elegant and deranged. Of the cuts on this CD (available through the Hatred Surge e-store), I’m partial to the Debut EP. These maniacs are just getting started.
\m/
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